Doreen Mampani

Why lament about the past?
Like the children of Israel in the desert
Oh that we stayed in Egypt so they cried out
Long not for the past my Brother
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I walked for a thousand kilometers
Ran away from wild animals
I crossed the Limpopo River at night
By the grace of God, the crocodiles didn't devour me
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Mama said I can't go to school
'cause mama is too poor to pay my school fees
Pastor offered to pay for my school fees
But mama refused, saying Pastor is too poor
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Though my nationality is judged by those who lack knowledge
That many Nigerian men are drug dealers
Believe me, when I tell you my brother
A God-fearing law-abiding Nigerian I am
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When nothing works out
All friends are gone
Family is too busy to help
The bills are due for payment
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So the little girl heard that night
Words of hatred papa uttered
First gun shot from the bedroom
More gun shots fired
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No child was ever named
Shame by his mother when born
Shame not accepted not welcome
Shame is not my name
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From deep, deep down the river
A whisper of death he heard
Not able to discern whose voice it was
Though it was raining yet he desired
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Give me more, give me more
So cried out the unwise rich man
I can't have enough I can't have enough
So shouted the unwise rich woman
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He woke up early morning
To look for alcohol to look for drugs
A wise old man asked the young man
Shall I say a prayer for you?
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Many lords have come and gone
Great men whom the rich bowed their knees to
Men of great stature walked in power
Where the poor trembled in their presence
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If a slave cries all the time
A depressed slave he will become
More lashing on his back to receive
To die early to die prematurely
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Shall I wait until tomorrow
Just to express my gratitude
Words speak more than a smile
For an African a smile means very little
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If souls shed tears mine would have filled tanks of water
Such pain too deep for my soul to endure
Early hours I lamented in deep pain
If tears could fill a bath mine would have
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